In-situ fabrication of cobalt oxide / sulphide mixed phase nanoparticles in Polyphenylenesulphide matrix

A novel approach for the in-situ fabrication of combined cobalt oxide / sulphide nanoparticles in sulphur containing polymer polyphenylenesulphide (PPS) by polymer inorganic solid-solid reaction technique is reported here. At present, there is considerable interest in polymer-metal chalcogenides / oxides based nano-composites on account of their optical, magnetic, electronic and catalytic properties. We have demonstrated the suitability of solid-solid reaction methodology by reacting commonly available cobalt precursors with engineering thermoplastic PPS. The cobalt precursor was reacted with PPS in 1:1, 1:5, 1:10, and 1:15 molar ratios, respectively, by heating the mixture at the melting temperature of the polymer (285 ºC) for six hours. The resultant products were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) techniques and High resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The shift in melting temperature of PPS was observed. Increase in absorption peak is observed in the range of 320 to 370 nm with the increase in PPS concentration. Resultant nanoparticles of cobalt sulphide and cobalt oxide embedded in the PPS matrix showed spherical and distorted rod like morphology.